Westminster Child Care Providers Gain Tax Rebate Program
Licensed providers will soon be eligible for a full refund of the city’s portion of property taxes to help keep centers open.
Updated on Oct. 28, 2026 in Child Care
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The Westminster City Council has approved a new property tax rebate program designed to support local child care providers. This pilot initiative refunds 100% of the city’s portion of property tax for eligible facilities, including home-based businesses, to help stem the loss of local care capacity.
Why it matters
The program aims to improve the financial stability of providers following a sharp decline in facilities and child care slots across the city. By lowering overhead costs, officials hope to sustain current operations and prevent further closures of licensed care centers.
The rebate covers the city’s 3.65-mill property tax levy, providing an estimated $2,260 annually for typical centers and $110 for home-based businesses. The program carries an estimated annual cost between $66,000 and $105,000.
The players
Westminster City Council
The local governing body responsible for municipal tax policy and public resource allocation in Westminster.
F.M. Day Early Learning Center
A former local child care facility whose closure in May 2026 highlighted the ongoing contraction of the city's care infrastructure.
The details
To qualify, properties must be located within city limits and serve at least three unrelated children under a state-licensed child care agreement. Once approved, the program functions as a direct refund of the city portion of property taxes paid by the provider. City staffers will conduct an annual evaluation of the initiative to present to the council for possible future renewal.
Timeline
2016: Westminster hosted 93 licensed child care providers.
2018: Local child care capacity reached its peak of 5,788 spaces.
May 2026: The F.M. Day Early Learning Center ceased operations.
June 2026: The count of active licensed providers fell to 74.
Week of October 28, 2026: The city council voted 6-0 to approve the rebate program.
The Home Front
The rebate program serves as a municipal response to a multi-year trend that saw total licensed child care capacity in Westminster drop by 9.3% since 2018. This initiative represents a rare local tax strategy aimed at preserving essential community-based social infrastructure.
If you operate a licensed home-based child care business in Westminster, consult the city council's legislative records to track upcoming application deadlines. Keep your state licensing documentation organized as you prepare to verify eligibility for the new tax refund.
The takeaway
This tax rebate is a proactive measure to keep small child care businesses open and stabilize local care options. Eligible providers should keep copies of their current state license and municipal tax statements on file to ensure they are ready when the refund application window opens.
Further reading
For more on local resources for parents, visit Child Care.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Westminster Window.
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